An Intimate Lake District Elopement at Merewood Country House Hotel
Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing my very first elopement — and honestly, it was such a beautiful reminder that weddings don’t have to be big to be deeply meaningful.
Becky and Brandon have been together for 13 years and engaged for 8. They first met at primary school but didn't start dating until they were 19 years old! They’ve built a quiet, steady kind of love, and when it came to planning their day, they knew straight away that a big traditional wedding just wasn’t for them. Neither of them likes to be the centre of attention, so instead they planned a relaxed, intimate ceremony with just the two of them, nestled in the beautiful gardens of Merewood Country House Hotel, overlooking Lake Windermere.
The ceremony took place at midday, just as the sun broke through the clouds — perfectly timed, like the day was giving them a gentle nod of approval. Two members of hotel staff acted as witnesses, and they even set up a camera to film the ceremony so they could share it with their grandmas later. That tiny gesture said so much about the care and thought they put into the day.
Brandon was nervous (his hands were shaking a little, which Becky clocked straight away — she knows him so well), but there was such a tenderness between them. It felt like the rest of the world had just melted away. You could tell they were completely in the moment, doing things entirely their own way.
And can we talk about how amazing Becky looked?! She wore a fitted, sequinned gown from Coast with a short train and a slit at the front — a real showstopper, but still so elegant. Brandon said he hadn’t expected such a figure-hugging dress, as Becky usually prefers to cover up more, but she looked incredible and you could see how proud he was. She had bought her bouquet herself and added dried blue flowers to match Brandon’s suit — even adjusting his buttonhole to tie it all together. A small wedding doesn’t mean less attention to detail, and this was proof of that.
After the ceremony, we wandered the grounds for some relaxed portraits. The gardens were peaceful and green, the views across Windermere absolutely stunning. From there, we made our way down to the lakeside, stopping at the jetty for some more photos — just the two of them soaking it all in. On our way back, we stumbled across a tucked-away public garden with no one else around. It was one of those unexpected moments that ended up feeling a bit magical, like it was just waiting for them.
Once the nerves of the ceremony had melted away, Becky and Brandon were completely at ease — smiling, laughing, and just enjoying each other’s company. It was simple, heartfelt, and beautifully low-key.
Thinking of Eloping in the Lake District?
If you're planning a wedding and the idea of being the centre of attention makes you break out in a sweat, eloping might be exactly what your heart’s been looking for. This day showed me just how special it can be to strip things back and focus on what really matters — the two of you, choosing each other, your way.
If that sounds like your kind of day, I’d absolutely love to be there to capture it.
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Venue: @merewoodhotel
Makeup: @makeupbyemily
Photography: Me! @elsiebeephotography